Telescopically length variable steering column arrangement

Abstract

A steering column of a motor vehicle is composed of two telescopically and torque transmittingly interengaging steering column tubes. These tubes are mounted in bearings. A steering wheel is allocated to a first steering column tube. The other steering column tube is connected with a steering gear box. A cylinder piston device is provided within at least one of the two steering column tubes. This cylinder piston device can be locked in a plurality of positions, such as to define a plurality of variable lengths of the steering column.

We claim: 
     
       1. A telescopically length variable steering column arrangement (2) for a motor vehicle having an axis and comprising: at least two telescopically and torque transmittingly interengaging steering column elements (3,6) rotatably mounted in a bearing system (10, 11);   a steering wheel (1) allocated to a first one of said steering column elements (3,6) for connection with steering gear means;   fluid operated locking means (4) provided within at least one of said at least two steering column elements for locking said steering column elements (3,6) in a plurality of selectable relative axial positions, said locking means (4) comprising locking valve means (24) and a locking control element (15) operatively connected with said locking valve means (24) and accessible to the vehicle operator for controlling said locking valve means (24); and   said locking control element (15) extending outwardly of said first one of said steering column elements (3,6) at a location adjacent to said steering wheel (1).   
     
     
       2. A telescopically length variable steering column arrangement (2) for a motor vehicle having an axis and comprising: at least two telescopically and torque transmittingly interengaging steering column elements (3,6) rotatably mounted in a bearing system (10, 11);   a steering wheel (1) allocated to a first one of said steering column elements (3,6) for connection with steering gear means;   fluid operated locking means (4) provided within at least one of said at least two steering column elements for locking said steering column elements (3,6) in a plurality of selectable relative axial positions, said locking means (4) comprising locking valve means (24) and a locking control element (15) operatively connected with said locking valve means (24) and accessible to the vehicle operator for controlling said locking valve means (24);   said fluid operated locking means (4) further comprising a cylinder member (6) having an axis and two ends and defining a cavity therein, a piston rod unit (5,25) extending through at least one of said two ends, a piston unit (19) connected with said piston rod unit (5,25) within said cavity and separating two working chambers (20,21) within said cavity from each other, passage means (22,23) for interconnecting said working chambers (20,21), said locking valve means (24) being allocated to said passage means (22,23); and   said cylinder member (6) acting as one of said steering column elements (3,6), a tube member (3) being non-rotatably guided on said cylinder member (6) and acting as the other one of said steering column elements (3,6), said piston rod unit (5) being operatively connected with said tube member (3).   
     
     
       3. A steering column arrangement as set forth in claim 2, said tube member (3) being operatively connected with said steering wheel (1), said locking control element (15) being provided adjacent an end portion of said piston rod unit (5,25) and adjacent said steering wheel (1). 
     
     
       4. A steering column arrangement as set forth in claim 2, said cylinder member (106) being operatively connected adjacent a bottom end (106e) thereof with said steering wheel (101), said locking control element (115) being provided adjacent said bottom end (106e) of said cylinder member (106). 
     
     
       5. A steering column arrangement as set forth in claim 2, said cylinder member (6) being provided with torque transmission means (17) engaging complementary torque transmission means (18) of said tube member (3). 
     
     
       6. A steering column arrangement as set forth in claim 2, said cylinder member (6) being surrounded by a torque transmitting sleeve non-rotatably connected with said cylinder member (6), said torque transmitting sleeve being provided with torque transmission means, said tube member (3) being provided with complementary torque transmission means (18). 
     
     
       7. A steering column arrangement as set forth in claim 5 or 6, said torque transmission means (17) and said complementary torque transmission means (18) being provided by axially extending spline means. 
     
     
       8. A steering column arrangement as set forth in claim 5, said complementary torque transmission means (18) being provided by a torque transmission ring member (16) fixed to an end portion of said tube member. 
     
     
       9. A telescopically length variable steering column arrangement (202) for a motor vehicle having an axis and comprising: at least two telescopically and torque transmittingly interengaging steering column elements (203,231) rotatably mounted in a bearing system (210, 211);   a steering wheel (201) allocated to a first one of said steering column elements (203,206) for connection with steering gear means;   fluid operated locking means (204) provided within at least one of said at least two steering column elements for locking said steering column elements (203,206) in a plurality of selectable relative axial positions, said locking means (204) comprising locking valve means (224) and a locking control element (215) operatively connected with said locking valve means (224) and accessible to the vehicle operator for controlling said locking valve means (224);   said fluid operated locking means (224) further comprising a cylinder member (206) having an axis and two ends and defining a cavity therein, a piston rod unit (205) extending through at least one of said two ends, a piston unit (219) connected with said piston rd unit (205) within said cavity and separating two working chambers (220,221) within said cavity from each other, passage means (206b, 206c, 206d) for interconnecting said working chambers (220,221), said locking valve means (224) being allocated to said passage means (206b, 206c, 206d); and   said steering column elements (203,231) being provided by two steering column tubes (203,231) providing a hollow space therein, said cylinder member (206) and said piston rod unit (205) being housed within said hollow space, one (203) of said steering column tubes (203,231) being operatively connected with said piston rod unit (205), the other one (231) of said steering column tubes (203,231) being operatively connected with said cylinder member (206).   
     
     
       10. A steering column arrangement as set forth in claim 9, said steering column tubes (203,231) being provided with respective torque transmission means (232). 
     
     
       11. A steering column arrangement as set forth in claim 10, said torque transmission means (232) comprising spline means. 
     
     
       12. A telescopically length variable steering column arrangement (2) for a motor vehicle having an axis and comprising: at least two telescopically and torque transmittingly interengaging steering column elements (3,6) rotatably mounted in a bearing system (10, 11);   a steering wheel (1) allocated to a first one of said steering column elements (3,6) for connection with steering gear means;   fluid operated locking means (4) provided within at least one of said at least two steering column elements for locking said steering column elements (3,6) in a plurality of selectable relative axial positions, said locking means (4) comprising locking valve means (24) and a locking control element (15) operatively connected with said locking valve means (24) and accessible to the vehicle operator for controlling said locking valve means (24); and   said fluid operated locking means (4) further comprising securing means (26,27) for unlocking said steering column elements (3,6) in a respective relative position thereof in response to a predetermined axial load.   
     
     
       13. A telescopically length variable steering column arrangement (2) for a motor vehicle having an axis and comprising: at least two telescopically and torque transmittingly interengaging steering column elements (3,6) rotatably mounted in a bearing system (10, 11);   a steering wheel (1) allocated to a first one of said steering column elements (3,6) for connection with steering guide means;   fluid operated locking means (4) provided within at least one of said at least two steering column elements for locking said steering column elements (3,6) in a plurality of selectable relative axial positions, said locking means (4) comprising locking valve means (24) and a locking control element (15) operatively connected with said locking valve means (24) and accessible to the vehicle operator for controlling said locking valve means (24); and   said fluid operated locking means (4) further comprising at least two working chambers (20,21) the respective volumes of which are variable in response to relative axial movement of said steering column elements (3,6), at least one (21) of said working chambers (20,21) being provided with an escape opening (26), said escape opening (26) being provided with emergency closure means (27), said emergency closure means (27) being adapted for opening under a predetermined axial load on said steering column elements (3,6).   
     
     
       14. A telescopically length variable steering column arrangement (2) for a motor vehicle having an axis and comprising: at least two telescopically and torque transmittingly interengaging steering column elements (3,6) rotatably mounted in a bearing system (10, 11);   a steering wheel (1) allocated to a first one of said steering column elements (3,6) for connection with steering gear means;   fluid operated locking means (4) provided within at least one of said at least two steering column elements for locking said steering column elements (3,6) in a plurality of selectable relative axial positions, said locking means (4) comprising locking valve means (24) and a locking control element (15) operatively connected with said locking valve means (24) and accessible to the vehicle operator for controlling said locking valve means (24); and   means biasing said steering column elements (3,6) towards a terminal relative position such that said steering column elements (3,6) move towards said terminal relative position in response to the opening of said locking valve means (24).   
     
     
       15. A steering column arrangement as set forth in claim 14, said biasing means (29) comprising a volume of pressurized gas. 
     
     
       16. A steering column arrangement as set forth in claim any one of claims 1, 2, 9, 12, 13 or 14, said steering column elements (3,6) being rotatably mounted within an external bearing tube (207). 
     
     
       17. A steering column arrangement as set forth in claim any one of claims 1, 2, 9, 12, 13 or 14, said first steering column element (3) being slidingly and rotatably mounted within a first bearing unit (10), said second steering column element (6) being rotatably mounted and axially supported by a second bearing unit (11).